Chris Brown has been going all out to relaunch his music career lately, just a few short months after pleading guilty to felony assault of his ex Rihanna. Right now, all signs indicate that Brown’s career rehab might be working. (Full disclosure: I’ve both reported on and expressed my opinion on various sides of this story.)
“I Can Transform Ya,” the lead single from his album Graffiti (due Dec. 8), has climbed to a peak position of No. 23 after five weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100. That’s not smash territory yet, but it suggests that a lot of people are ready to hear new music from Brown. “The audience will tell us whether they want to hear it,” says Rob Morris, program director at the Twin Cities region’s KDWB FM, which has begun testing “I Can Transform Ya” in its mix shows. “I’m sure there’s going to be folks who will give us reasons why they don’t think Chris Brown should have a song on the radio. But a song’s a song. Obviously he’s paying for [what he did] in many ways. I think the music that he continues to do is somewhat separate.”
The story is much the same in concert venues around the country. Brown kicked off his Fan Appreciation tour this past weekend with a sold-out show in Houston. His dates this week in L.A. and San Francisco are sold out, too, according to his label. While Brown has been playing smaller venues than usual, it’s clear that he’s kept a substantial number of fans. Many of them must feel the same way as New Boyz (of “You’re a Jerk” fame), who jumped at the chance to be Brown’s opening act on this tour despite his violent behavior in February. “That was his business,” New Boyz’ Ben J tells the Music Mix. “We’re not going to hold that against Chris Brown. He still makes dope music.”
The real test will be in the coming weeks, when singles like “I Can Transform Ya” and “Crawl” either continue to climb the charts or start to fall, and Graffiti arrives in stores.
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Chris Brown on the Music Mix
Rock ‘n’ roll wine tie-ins
Miley Cyrus not a Twilight fan: “I’ve never seen it, nor will I ever”
Kris Allen: A track-by-track analysis of his self-titled debut album
Photo credit: UPI/John Angelillo/Landov
Comments (1-15) of 121 Add your comment
I hope not a single record of his is sold ever again.
That won’t happen. People will buy it. We must all move on now.
That will NEVER happen because people like me will support C.B. ok we all agree what he did to rihanna was wrong but come one enough is enough move on, C.B. is one of the best dancers/r&b singers out there you have to be a complete hater to not appriciate his music…rhianna will be ok, aint no point destroyina a mans carreer over something like that, amean loook at tommy lee jones and pamela anderson, no one cares..please yall all need to leve C.B. alone.
I don’t want to move on. I stop at WIFE BEATER. Game over, Chrissy.
I agree with Kevin. There’s not moving on from this for me. You can’t separate the artist from his music. It’s barely been a year. How can people already be cooling off?
Don’t forget Rihanna hit him too, or is it that because she’s a woman, it doesn’t matter.
No one knows the WHOLE truth about this situation, so go out and buy both if like the music and let the actual artists worry about their own private lives!
I don’t understand the “Rihanna hit him too” argument. no, she shouldn’thave done that. but it’s really not even remotely comparable to him biting her and slamming her face into the dashboard. he was perfectly fine afterwards. she was not.
I don’t like his music and never have, but to just call it a mistake and say people are haters because they no longer support him is stupid. violence, especially that severe, is not something to take lightly. not supporting him will perhaps shed more light that it is not acceptable in society for men to beat their significant others [or vice versa]. if people forgive him, I feel like it’s the standard of “well, he seems like he’s sorry, so we’ll forgive him”…talk about battered housewife syndrome.
I’m sorry Kevin, but you don’t that. There is no evidence available that shows Rihanna hit Chris. She even said herself (20/20) that she did not hit him like people are saying. I also hope that this kids career fails, I don’t know how anyone can say his personal life shouldn’t affect his career. Well, I am all set with giving money to a punk kid who isn’t the least bit remorseful for what he did. The kid is turning into a typical narcissist hollywood sleazeball. Congrats to all you idiots who are assisting in that.
He is a young man who made a mistake and its people like you who are haters. Chris if you are reading this don’t take it to heart. As God to forgive you then the young lady and then you for give yourself, and pray foe people like Chris.
Personally, I will NOT support Chris Brown or his music. I would rather donate my money to a shelter for abused women.
I didn’t listen to any of his music before and I don’t listen to any of it now.
If you didn’t care about him then you wouldn’t have taken 6 minutes of your internet time just to read this article and comment. get a life.
We have a life. We defend beaten women. You defend WIFE BEATERS.
ruscha…she said she didn’t listen to him, not that she didn’t care about him. I didn’t listen to him, but that doesn’t mean the situation doesn’t make me want to voice an opinion.
I’m torn on this. On the one hand, I think he’s tried to jump back into music too soon after this all went down and he waited far too long to issue a public apology. Though he didn’t “owe” the public an apology for his actions, we have watched their relationship and I do feel that he owed a public apology to Rhianna much sooner after it happened. I realize that all of that could be b/c of legal counsel and music execs telling him what to do but that to me, doesn’t seem truly repentant for his actions (going by JUST what I’ve seen). On the other hand, I do think that if he worked thru this, he could change. It would be a long process but I hate to write another person off like that. It’s not justified behaviour at all but I don’t feel like you can completely give up on a person if they seem truly willing to work it out. The public and music industry has been “forgiving” to R. Kelly. Though this is different, that could now extend to Chris. I’m not sure if that’s because people don’t want to give up or because some just genuinely don’t care what you do in your personal life anymore. As long as you make good music (or play sports well) you’re okay.
Exactly what I feel.
Ditto. I thought Chris Brown should’ve lied low until at least 2010, and at least hire a better PR crew for future decisions (their advice over the past months sucked tremendously). But I also don’t believe he should be punished for the rest of his life because of his actions (like many have angrily suggested). I hope for CB’s sake, he doesn’t make the same mistake again and makes sure he’s taking his rehab sessions seriously. This matter can’t simply be remedied by an ‘I’m sorry’, even if it is genuine.
What have you seen that leads you to say he’s not truly repentent? And how does a person who’s truly sorry act? Dress? Speak? It’s important to know that he’s never been in trouble before. What’s the best way to act/speak/dress when you’re in trouble? I wouldn’t know. Do you know? Have you been in trouble before? He’s young, and he may not carry himself in a way that you would like, but he’s been outspoken about domestic violence for many years. He grew up with it. He’s seen it up close. Now he’s seeing another side of it. He’s now repeating the very thing that he said he would never do. That’s a struggle, and he’ll have to go through a process. Let’s pray for him to figure it out.
When you release a public video apology and it’s obvious you’re reading off of cue cards or a teleprompter, it doesn’t exactly scream sincerity. Every statement he’s made about the incident seems like it was written for him by his publicist. Nothing about his apologies has seemed genuine to me. I pray for him, though, to understand the severity of what he did and hopefully he can change. Hopefully this whole thing can make him a better person. People deserve second chances. But from what I’ve seen so far, I don’t think he deserves it just yet. He should have waited a bit longer before jumping back into music.
Well he’s gotta make money. Yo’d be damned a damn fool if you wouldn’t jump back on the money train.
the only reason why his singles are climbing are because of his teenage fans. same goes for his concert shows. Doesnt mean every one loves him again.lets how well his album does.
that’s not true- grown ups are supporting Mr. brown as well.
@ Chris, keep wishing that his record will not sell, while in the real world his single i can transform ya is # 14 on i tunes, just 4 steps behind rihanna who is # 10. his tours are sold out. his new single crawl is the # 1 video on mtv voted by fans, his i can transform ya video is # 1 on itunes. ok so keep wishing,it will only happen in ur dreams, not in reallty
You’re quoting KDWB!?! What a surprise to see. Are we the only city in the country playing him so far?
Nope. I heard “Transform” a couple mornings ago in Nashville’s hip-hop/R&B station.
And I agree that censoring Chris Brown, no matter how people feel about him right now, is a bad idea; simply because it’s blatant hypocrisy. Numerous artists in the rap/R&B genre have done really deplorable stuff, yet none of them (including Rick James and R. Kelly) got censored thus far. Hell, Dr. Dre beat up a female reporter in his NWA days (and even said she deserved it) and Mystikal raped a woman (though he’s still in jail for that), yet I still hear their music played every now and then. If people want to ignore CB or any other artist for past transgressions, they can change the channel. Besides, radio stations (like other forms of media) shouldn’t feel morally obligated to make those decisions.
YOU’RE JUST HYPOCRITCAL RACIST. HOW IN THE HELL CAN YOU SAY ARTIST IN THE HIP HOP WORLD HAVE DONE BAD THINGS.SEAN PENN,CHARLIE SHEEN,TOMMY LEE,PHIL SPECTOR,JACK NICHOLSON,ROBERT BLAKE,CHRISTIAN SLATER,CHRISTIAN BALE AND THE LIST OF WHITE, POP SINGER/ACTORS GOES ON AND ON.BUT THE TRUTH IS MAINSTREAM AMERICA DOESN’T FLAUNT THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR OWN TO THE WORLD.THEY ONLY DO IT WHEN IT’S A BLACK PERSON.WHY WERE CHRIS AND RIHANNA MADE POSTER CHILDREN FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHEN IT WENT ON WITH MADONNA – WHO IS THE BIGGEST STAR THE MUSIC WORLD HAS HAD?
asdf…calm down. Stop throwing the race card around, please. It makes you look simple-minded, and typing in all CAPS, like your caplock key is busted is just tacky.
And please stop blaming all the crazy white folks for Chris being attacked in the media, he has but one very special African-American to thank for that…O.J. Simpson!
his singles get more airplay in philly than Rihanna’s does, Crawl is blowin up here on both the pop and r&b station.
The only POP station in Philly, Q102 is NOT playing any Chris Brown records. Only the hip-hop stations are. Please don’t give out false information.
And WRDW – Wired 96.5 is NOT a Mainstream Radio Station, its a Rhythmic Station, its slogan just happens to be “Hits & Hip-Hop”.
So Philadelphia is now the City of Brother Love for WIFE BEATERS? Nice.
KDWB will play anything. I wouldn’t trust their opinion. Minneapolis radio stations are terrible. I thank God every day for my ipod
no. there are plenty other countries that stil love him
He will always be one of my favorite artist! I don’t condone his behavior, but I love his music!
Well, sacrifice a little. Give up his music for the greater good. Help beaten women.
Uhh ppl spare me da sentimentaly u knw ppl must learn 2 put personal life 4rm his career separate.yes wat he did was wrong da man servd his tym.rihanna 4gave him y cant u do da same!his music is stil dope…yal should reali move on.
You should move on to a classroom, maybe you can learn to write?
EW so badly wants too support CB you can tell, ok his tours are selling and songs are doing well, but we’ll wrap our support in a you may be surprised what you read blog…lol Come on just say out of the Two CB has released the better music thus far…and in the real world people see the situation for what it was and have moved past it
I haven’t. I see WIFE BEATERS and I don’t move past it. Because I think it’s wrong.
Okay, first of all…how is he a wife beater? When Chris popped Riri dead in her mouth, was she his wife, or his girlfriend? LOL…his GF, so don’t say “wife” cuz you sound stupid.
Second of all, you are a lying hypocrite if you don’t move past “Wife Beaters” because half of your favorite actors you see on TV beat the brakes off their wives on the daily.
first of all…YO MOMMA? really? brilliant name. second of all, while I agree that she was his girlfriend, the importance is in the abuse of a significant other. it doesn’t make it less severe because they’re not married. third of all, I didn’t realize you know what half of actors do when they’re at home? or even who his favorite actors are?
plus the concert he did in dallas last weel sunday sold ou too, dont forget that simon the hater
I am glad his music he doing well.
He said he was sorry and I believe
him. He is a nice guy,Church going,
use to sing on the Choir before he was discovered.
unfortunately, i think that “i can transform ya” is a decent track…and “Crawl” is AWESOME.
It’s the most awesome music to BEAT your WIFE by. I can’t wait for his next album. I wonder which women he will suggest we beat up next…
Damn, do you know him personally? You act like you live next door to him. But, that’s what a hater does, they hate on everyone else when they know they ain’t shit. If you don’t like somebody, you don’t deal with them, speak to them, speak about them, you ignore them. But because a hater does not have a life, the only job, is to hate. The problem is not Chris Brown, the problem is people like you who act as though they have never done anything wrong, who are so perfect. But mainly, somebody that is miserable, and wants everybody else to be that way also. Chris Brown is trying to move on, regardless how he does it or when he does it, he has that right to do so. It seems you are worried more about him, than your own miserable life, or do you have one?
He’s not an “artist.” He’s an entertainer, whose appeal is largely centered on his persona. Now that that’s been shattered, I don’t give a crap about what he does anymore and have no interest in supporting him with my money. If he is truly repentant, good for him, but that’s something I won’t ever be able to know just by watching him ham it up in interviews. Taking steps to become a less violent, abusive human being should be his award in and of itself, not quickly resuming promotional activities in an attempt to regain fame. If he was truly remorseful and understood the significance of what he’d done, going after the fame so soon wouldn’t matter so much to him. Instead he’s releasing public statements after his victim’s interview whining that, “While I respect Rihanna’s right to discuss the specific events of February 8, I maintain my position that all of the details should remain a private matter between us,” while an MTV interview with him on the subject is about to be aired and his album released! Of course you don’t want the “details” talked about, moron – they make you look horrible and you should own up to it instead of suggesting no one talk about it! – but I can’t believe you have the nerve to think you have any say over whether your beating victim should have actually explained how you beat her or not.
He is not hamming it up in any interviews. Chris Brown has given many interviews over the years concerning domestic violence, and he feels strongly about that. Now that he’s on this side of the issue, as commiting the act, he now knows he needs to get help for anger management. You HAVE NOT EVER seen him “hamming it up” or joking about this matter in ANY interview. Please stop lying.
“Hamming it up” means to exaggerate one’s acting so it comes off as insincere…I didn’t mean that he was joking about it – even a moron like Chris Brown knows that would be career suicide. And, yes, comparing your felony assault committed against your girlfriend to the story of Romeo and Juliet on “Larry King” is self-pitying and melodramatic. I’m pretty sure Romeo and Juliet would not be considered one of the most classic love stories of all time if Romeo had beaten the sh*t out of Juliet. And you don’t know how he feels stop stop lying that you *know* how sincere he is about domestic violence. He obviously wasn’t being sincere during all interviews about the issue where he railed against abusers, claiming how much he wanted to kill his father for what he’d done to his mother and how much he’d grown from the experience. Now all he’s doing is angling for sympathy without exactly fessing up to what he did and referring to his assault as “the incident.” Just say “when I beat her up”! Own up to it if you truly recognize how horrible what you did was.
@ Gabby his is doing well lick balls
Classy.